Low-water alarm.



PATENTED NOV. 12. 1907.

W. LUUDON. LOW WATER ALARM. APPILIOATION FILED 00T.6. 1906.

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WILLIAM LOUDON, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

LOW-WATER ALARM.

Specification of Letters iEatent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed October 6 1906. Serial No. 337,832-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LoUDoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Low-Water Alarms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to low water alarms for boilers, and has for an object to provide a device of the class embodying new-and improved features of economy, accuracy and reliability.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device embodying broadly the feature of the expanding ellipse used to control a boiler feed as fully described in the application of this applicant, filed March 1, 1906, Serial Number 303,724, and applying the said part to a boiler alarm.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class embodying the expanding ellipse above mentioned and with improved connecting means whereby the expanding of the said ellipse opens the valve controlling a whistle.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain other novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawingsz-Figure 1 represents the device in side elevation showing the column to which the device is applied in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a view of the device in end elevation with the ellipse and connecting rod broken away to exhibit the working parts. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the whistle and whistle controlling means dis-associated from the ellipse member.

Like characters-of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The device forming the subject-matter of this application is adapted for association with a steam boiler direct as shown at 10 or with a stand-pipe, column, header, or other means connected with the boiler in which the water level is maintained similar to the water level in the boiler. The device comprises a column 11 having at its lower end means for connection with the boiler stand-pipe, etc., as the screw thread 12 and continued within the boiler or stand pipe by a pipe 13 extending downwardly below the normal water line shown at 14 and in proximity to the low water or danger line 15.

At its upper end the column 11 is provided with a T-head 16 and with a branch 17 off-set therefrom su bstantially at right angles and with an elbow 18 whereby the off-set terminates in a substantially vertical pipe. Within the opposite end of the ZIP-head 16 are secured the spaced open ends of the elliptical pipe 19 positioned in a plane substantially vertical above the column l1. Extending along the major axis of the ellipse 19 is a tie rod 20 connected with the extremes of the ellipse by means of bifurcated'connecting members 21 in any manner for convenient adjustment and exertion of tension, as by the sleeves 22 inserted through the bifurcated members and engaging screw-threaded portions 23 upon the opposite ends of the said tie rod and provided'with heads 24 whereby the sleeves may be rotated.

Upon the vertically extending portion of the off-set 17 is secured a whistle 25 by means of the usual and ordinary valve 26 having an operating stem 27 extending outwardly from one side thereof. The valve casing 26 is provided with spaced arms 28 rigid or integral therewith and between which are pivoted a lever or wiper 29 as by the pin 30 and with its opposite end provided with an elongated slot 31. At a point sub stantially vertical above the column 17 a rod 32 is secured in any approved manner as, by means 01' a clip 33, which clip 33 is preferably provided with a pet cock 34 for permitting the escape of cold air from the ellipse. The rod 32 is provided intermediate its ends with an elongated slot 35 embracing the tie rod 20 by means of which a vertically reciprocating movement of the rod 32 is permitted. The rod 32, at its lower end, extends through the slot 31 and is provided with a nut 36 having a rounded top for bearing against the under side of the lever 29 and with a jam nut 37 positioned to engage and bind the rounded nut.

In operation, so long as the water of the boiler remains at the normal level shown at the line 14 or approximating such level and above the danger lino shown at 15, the lower open end of the pipe 13 is closed by the contained water and steam may not enter the column 11 and ellipse 19. When, however, the water in the boiler lalls below the end of the pipe 13, to wit, to the danger line 15', then the lower end ol' the pipe 13 is uncovered and steam is permitted to enter therein and into the elliptical pipe 19, and by reason of its heat the said ellipse is expanded. As the ellipse is tied together along its major axis any expansion of the ellipse must be compensated for by an increase in its minor axis along which extends the rod 32 connected at its upper end to and moving with the upper side of the ellipse and at its lower end connected with the whistle operating wiper, whereby a rise of the By use of the mechanism above described it will be seen that all valves for the control of the flow of steam into the actuating device are clone away With and the only valve employed is the valve to control the flow of steam into the whistle. It is iurther well known that the application of heat to metal causes an expansion of the metal and the exertion of a very great degree of force whereby the actuation of the whistle device is positive and reliable.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a tubular ellipse, means arranged to form communication between the steam generator and the interior of the ellipse, means extending along the major axis of and rigidly connecting the opposite ends of the ellipse against longitudinal expansion, a signal mounted adjacent the ellipse, and a rod extending along the minor axis of the ellipse and rigidly connected at one end to the ellipse and at its opposite end to the signal to actuate the same.

2. In a device of the class described, a hollow column arranged for connection with a steam generator, an ellipse comprising a pipe having spaced ends in communication with the hollow column, a signal offset from and in communication with the column adjacent to the spaced ends of the ellipse, and means whereby the expansion of the ellipse actuates the signal.

Ina device of the class described, a hollow column provided at its lower end with means for connecting with a steam generator, a tubular ellipse having spaced ends connected and in communication with the column at its upper end, a tubular offset in communication with the hollow column at its upper end, a whistle mounted upon the off-set, and means connected with the ellipse whereby the expansion of the ellipse actuates the whistle.

4. In a device of the class described, a column arranged for connection with a steam generator, a tubular ellipse in communication with the column, a signal connected and communicating with the column, a rod rigidly con necting the ellipse along its major axis, a rod connected with the upper portion of the ellipse and disposed along the minor axis of the ellipse but free from connection with the lower portion and provided with means for embracing the rigid rod, and means connecting the last-mentioned rod with and to actuate the signal.

5. In a device of the class described, a tubular column provided with means at its lower end for connection with a steam generator, a tubular ellipse having spaced ends communicating with the column at its upper end, a tubular off-set communicating with the column at its upper end, a steam whistle mounted upon the tubular off-set, a rod extending along the major axis of the ellipse and rigidly connecting its opposite ends, a rod embracing the rigid rod and extending along the minor axis of the ellipse and connected with the ellipse at its upper side, and means connecting the last-mentioned rod with and to actuate the steam whistle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM LOUDON.

Witnesses G. WARD KEMP, C. C. PHILLIPS. 

